Have we as a soceity released over 5000 gigatons of carbon into the environment?

Question

Because nature did that a few million years ago and destroyed almost everything, but the Earth lived on. Will this be our fate when we release 5000 gigatons of carbon into the environment?

Answer 1

Certainly, carbon is released by us humans continuously. I do believe we have already, considering the continuous existence of us primates. We humans have existed for many thousands of years and have expanded in amount GREATLY over time. So many humans must have summed up a whole lot more than 5,000 gigatons. I can't confirm this though...

Answer 2

I'm still having trouble believing that the 0.0037% of CO2 that's our fault can have any appreciable affect on an atmosphere that already has 3% CO2 in it naturally.

Answer 3

I won't argue that releasing the chemicals we release into the atmosphere is benign. The carbon cycle means we're adding more carbon than nature can handle. However, that darn nature is innovative and the more CO2 there is the better for plants and that's because they LOVE CO2. It's complex though since now it looks like air pollution might help solve AGW if it is really happening. Ironic, huh?

If it turns out AGW is occurring, the best solution will be sequestration and not unrealistic calls for us to going back to living in the Stone Age. Get out of the way and let capitalism and free enterprise take care of it.

BTW, volcanoes are only a small source of CO2, at least until Yellowstone erupts and in that case everything on Earth will die. Sweet dreams.

Answer 4

Yea? Good one, but I think you mean Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Sure would like to see where you got the info on "carbon?" release killing "almost" everything. Or are you referring to the asteroid theory that crushed the earth killing off the dinosaurs. Maybe you are right, it could have been made of all carbon.

Answer 5

no colin, i think we definitely put more harmful chemicals in the air than volcanoes. our co2 is usually with other worse chemicals than volcanoes have.

Answer 6

Hmm, what about all that tectonic activity? Volcanoes? I'm sure they release more CO2 then we realize.

Answer 7

I hope so. Breaking records is cool.